Eye Specialists

Optometrists and opticians are important to your family's health and to your quality of life. We trust that the eye specialists in our lives will ensure that our vision is protected – and corrected, when necessary. That's why it's important to find eye professionals who are qualified, dependable, affordable, and a good fit with your family's lifestyle.

Luckily, finding excellent eye specialists is simple. Chances are that your local retail eyewear store employs a licensed optometrist, and expert opticians. Larger retail outlets such as Hakim Optical have much to offer your family.

Your Family's Needs

Regular eye examinations are crucial for maintaining eye health. It's recommended that children and teens have a yearly exam. Adults aged 19 - 39 need an exam every second year, while those over 40 should also have an annual checkup.

An optometrist will check young children for a variety of conditions, including a "lazy eye” and "crossed eyes.” It's important to catch these problems early and treat them promptly.

In school aged children and adolescents, vision correction is a priority. Often these are the years when difficulties such as myopia, astigmatism, or farsightedness will be diagnosed. These conditions are easily corrected with glasses or contacts. If vision problems go undiagnosed, children may have trouble with schoolwork.

Younger adults need an eye examination once every two years. By then, most people's eyes have stabilized, and change occurs more slowly; however, even if there are no problems with vision, it's important to have regular checks. Many eye diseases are asymptomatic in the early stages, and can only be discovered by an optometrist. Eye specialists have even been known to discover serious conditions such as brain tumours during a routine eye exam.

Adults over forty should have annual exams. Age increases the likelihood of developing diseases that affect the eyes, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. The risk of eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration increases significantly with age. These are also the years when people may need bifocal, multifocal, or progressive lenses.

Corrective Lenses

Another type of eye specialist is the optician, who designs, fits, and dispenses lenses to correct conditions. If discovering vision problems is crucial, so is the fitting of proper corrective lenses.

Larger eyewear retail outlets employ in-store opticians. This means that you can save both time and money on prescription eyewear for your family. Often, the cost of an eye exam is offset by a coupon for eyeglass frames from the store, and even without coupons, eyewear at retail outlets is much more affordable. A quick comparison reveals that consumers can save as much as 50% on the latest styles and high-end fashion frames. As well, frames are often guaranteed for one year after purchase.

Retail outlets like Hakim Optical have numerous locations, so it's easy to find a store near where you live. And you know that you can trust established brands such as these that have been part of the Canadian landscape for decades.